Hammer with nail holder

ABSTRACT

A pivotally retractible nail supporting clip mounted upon the neck of a conventional hammer whose free end defines a head. The clip is supported for swinging movement between a retracted position within a longitudinal groove cut in the neck of the hammer head and an extended position disposed at right angles relative to the hammer head neck and projecting toward the free end of the associated hammer handle. The clip clampingly engages an associated nail in position paralleling the neck and with the pointed end of the nail projecting outwardly beyond the head of the hammer while the head end of the nail is abutted against the sleeve portion of the hammer head in which the associated handle is secured.

United States Patent [191 Aherin [451 Jan. 29, 1974 1 1 HAMMER WITH NAIL HOLDER [76] Inventor: Daniel A. Aherin, 209-13 Fowler St.,

China Lake, Calif. 93555 [22] Filed: Apr. 7, 1972 [21] Appl, No.: 242,007

[52] US. Cl 145/30 R [51] Int. Cl B25d 1/04 [58] Field of Search..... 7/1 F, 8, 9; 145/29 R, 29 A, 145/29 B, 29 C, 29 D, 30 R, 30 A, 30.5, 46

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 903,095 11/1908 Johnson 145/30 R 3,169,255 2/1965 Simmons 145/30 R Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr.

Assistant ExaminerMark S. Bicks Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson 57 ABSTRACT A pivotally retractible nail supporting clip mounted upon the neck of a conventional hammer whose free end defines a head. The clip is supported for swinging movement between a retracted position within a longitudinal groove cut in the neck of the hammer head and an extended position disposed at right angles relative to the hammer head neck and projecting toward the free end of the associated hammer handle. The clip clampingly engages an associated nail in position paralleling the neck and with the pointed end of the nail projecting outwardly beyond the head of the hammer while the head end of the nail is abutted against the sleeve portion of the hammer head in which the associated handle is secured.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures The nail holder of the instant invention has been designed specifically to provide a means whereby a nail may be started by a person wishing to drive a nail and with that person using only one hand to start the nail. The nail holder is supported from the neck of an associated hammer in a manner such that a nail may be removably clamped in position thereby in parallel relation with the neck of the hammer head and with the sharpened point of the nail projecting outwardly beyond the head of the hammer and the head of the nail abutted against the sleeve of the hammer head in which the associated hammer handle is secured. In this manner, the initial swinging of the hammer toward the workpiece will cause the supported nail to at least partially penetrate the workpiece. The grip of the nail holder on the nail is of the readily releasable type and after the nail has been initially started a slight lengthwise shifting of the hammer handle is sufficient to disengage the nail holder carried by the hammer head from the started nail. Thereafter, continued driving of the nail may be accomplished by striking the head of the hammer on the head of the nail in the conventional manner.

The nail holder is further constructed in a manner whereby nails of different diameters may be supported thereby. Also, the nail holder is supported from the associated hammer head in a manner such that the nail holder may be readily shifted from an operative position to an inoperative position wholly received within the confines of the neck of the associated hammer head and thereby protected from damage during normal use of the associated hammer head. If desired, the nail holder may be constructed in a manner whereby it may be frictionally retained in its inoperative position and the pivotal mounting of the nail holder from the associated hammer head is such to allow the nail holder to swing toward its retracted position in the event it is inadvertently left in the operative position and struck against an object during normal swinging movement of the associated hammer.

Similar nail holding attachments have been heretofore provided such as those disclosed in U. S. Pat. Nos. 903,095; 976,679; and 1,133,277. However, these nail holding attachments are not of the retractible type and can incur damage if a misstrike of the associated hammer head is experienced when the nail holding attachment is not in use. To the contrary, when applicants nail holder is not in use and swung towards inoperative position, a mis-strike of the associated hammer head will be ineffective to render damage to the nail holder.

The main object of this invention is to provide a hammer head including a nail holder for facilitating the starting of a nail.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a nail holding attachment for a hammer head that will be capable of supporting nails of different diameters.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a holding attachment for a hammer head that may be readily swung to an inoperative position wholly within the confines of the neck portion of the hammer head.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a nail holding attachment that may be constructed in a manner so as to be frictionally retained in the inoperative position.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a hammer head nail holding attachment in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a hammer with the nail holding attachment of the instant invention operatively associated with the neck of the head of the hammer and a nail being supported from the nail holding attachment in position to be started upon the hammer being initially swung toward a workpiece;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view as seen from the left side of FIG. 1 and with the nail removed;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but with the nail holding attachment in a retracted inoperative position and portions of the hammer head and nail holding attachment being broken away to more clearly illustrate the structural details of the attachment and the portions of the hammer head from which the attachment is supported;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the nail holding attachment.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of claw hammer including a hammer head 12 and a hammer handle 14. The head 12 includes a stock or body portion 16, a forwardly projecting neck 18 and a rearwardly projecting and curving claw 20. The forward end of the neck 18 terminates in a head 22 defining a striking surface 24 and the head 12 further includes a sleeve portion 26 in which the base end of the handle 14 is secured.

The foregoing may be considered as descriptive of a conventional form of claw hammer.

In practicing the instant invention, the underside of the neck 18 of the head 12 is provided with a longitudinal slot 28 and a centrally disposed apertured mounting ear 30 is disposed in the end of the slot 28 adjacent the head 22.

The nail holding attachment is referred to in general by the reference numeral 32 and includes a bifurcated end 34 whose furcations 36 are provided with aligned apertures 38. The apertured mounting ear 30 is receivable between the furcations 36 and the apertures 38 are registrable with the aperture formed in the mounting ear 30. Still further, the opposite side portions of the neck 18 disposed on opposite sides of the slot or groove 28 are provided with aligned bores 40 registered with the aperture 30 and a retaining and pivot end 42 is secured through the apertures 40, the apertures 38 and the aperture formed in the mounting ear 30 whereby the bifurcated end of the attachment for nail holder 32 is pivotally secured within the end of the slot or groove 28 adjacent the head 22. The attachment 32 is swingable between the operative extended position illustrated in FIG. 1 and the retracted inoperative position illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings with the attachment 32 wholly received within the groove or slot 28.

The end of the attachment 32 remote from the bifurcated end thereof has a longitudinally extending slit 44 formed therein and the inner end of the slit 44 tenninates in a transverse bore 46 while an outer end portion of the slit 44 is widened to form a larger diameter transverse bore 48. Further, the opposite sides of the outer end of the slit 44 are beveled as at 50 so as to define a V-shaped throat leading into the bore 48.

The material of which the attachment 32 is constructed may be either metal, plastic or hard rubber. However, the material of which the attachment 32 is constructed will be sufficiently shape retentive to enable a large diameter nail to be forced through the throat defined by the beveled surfaces 50 and into the bore 48 or a smaller diameter nail to be forced into the bore 46. Thus, the portions of the attachment 32 disposed on opposite sides of the slit 44 will be at least somewhat resilient to enable these portions of the attachment 32 to be spread apart so as to widen the slit 44 and enable a large diameter nail to be received in the bore 48 or a small diameter nail to be received in the bore 46.

In operation, when it is desired to hold a nail'from the nail holder, the nail holder 32 is swung to the operative position illustrated in FIGv 1 of the drawings and a nail such as the nail S2 is laterally shifted through the throat defined between the beveled surfaces 50 and into the bore 48. The natural resiliency of the material of which the attachment 32 is constructed will thus cause the nail 52 to be frictionally gripped in the bore 48 while the hammer is swung toward the workpiece in the conventional manner. After the first strike'of the nail 52 with the workpiece the nail 52 will be sufficiently embedded in the workpiece to enable the handle 14 to be longitudinally displaced in a direction advancing the head 12 to disengage the attachment 32 from the nail 52. Thereafter, the attachment 32 may be swung to the inoperative position illustrated in FIG. 3 of the draw ings and continued driving of the nail may be accomplished in the conventional manner by striking the surface 24 with the head 54 of the nail. Of course, if a smaller diameter nail is to be held by the attachment 32, it is held in the bore 46 disposed at the inner end of the slit 44.

The width of the slot or groove 28 and the natural resiliency of the attachment 32 is such to enable the opposite sides of the attachment 32 to be frictionally received between the opposite side walls of the grooves 28 whereby the attachment 32 will be frictionally retained in the retracted position within the slot or groove 28 until utilization of the nail holder 32 is desired. Of course, when it is desired to withdraw the nail holder 32 from the slot 28, it may be readily displaced therefrom by utilizing the nail to be started as a prior tool to swing the free end of the attachment 32 from the end of the slot or groove 28 adjacent the sleeve 26.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a hammer head including a body defining laterally projecting handle means, and a laterally projecting neck extending outwardly from said body in a direction angularly disposed generally degrees to the 7 direction in which said handle means projects, said handle means and said head lying in generally the same plane, a nail holding member supported and projecting outwardly from an outer end portion of said neck and generally paralleling and opposing the base end portion of said handlemeans, said nail holding member also being disposed in said plane, the outer end portion of said nail holding member defining a passage in which to removably receive an associated nail therethrough with the head of the nail abutted against the side of the base end portion of said handle means facing in the direction of said neck and the point of the nail projecting endwise outwardly beyond the free end of the neck of the hammer head, said neck including an elongated longitudinal slot formed therein opening laterally outwardly of said neck toward the free end of said nail holding member, the inner end portion of said nail holding member being pivotally anchored in said slot for swinging of said nail holding member in said plane toward an inoperative position extending longitudinally of and at least partially received in said slot, the width of said nail holding member measured transversely of said plane being such to enable at least the free end portion of said nail holding member to be frictionally received and retained in said slot when said nail holding member is in its inoperative position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the outer end of said nail holding member is bifurcated and the furcations thereof are spaced on opposite sides of said plane and define said passage therebetween.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the inner end portion of said nail holding member is pivotally anchored in the end portion of said slot adjacent the head of said hammer on the end of said neck remote from said body, whereby the free end of said nail holding member is swingable toward said handle means when being swung toward its inoperative position.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the outer end of said nail holding member is bifurcated and the furcations thereof are spaced on opposite sides of said plane and define said passage therebetween.

5. In combination with a hammer head including a body defining laterally projecting handle means, and a laterally projecting neck extending outwardly from said body in a direction angularly disposed generally 90 to the direction in which said handle means projects, said handle means and said head lying in generally the same plane, a resilient nail holding member supported and projecting outwardly from an outer end portion of said neck and generally paralleling and opposing the base end portion of said handle means, said resilient nail holding member also being disposed in said plane, the outer end portion of said resilient nail holding member defining a passage in which to removably receive an associated nail therethrough with the head of the nail abutted against the side of the base end portion of said handle means facing in the direction of said neck and the point of the nail projecting endwise outwardly beyond the free end of the neck of the hammer head, said neck including anelongated longitudinal slot formed therein opening laterally outwardly of said neck toward the free end of said resilient nail holding member, the

holding member and portions of said slot defining coacting means operative to frictionally retain said resilient nail holding member in said inoperative position.

UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No- .3 J Dated January 29, 1974 InventoflS) PMFtA hherhi It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Cha n'ge the address of the patentee to:

Genesse, Idaho 83832 I (SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSONJR, -c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of' Batents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 t u.s. sovnmann nnmus omct: nu o-an-a.\4

F ORM PO-105O (lo-6s) 

1. In combination with a hammer head including a body defining laterally projecting handle means, and a laterally projecting neck extending outwardly from said body in a direction angularly disposed generally 90 degrees to the direction in which said handle means projects, said handle means and said head lying in generally the same plane, a nail holding member supported and projecting outwardly from an outer end portion of said neck and generally paralleling and opposing the base end portion of said handlE means, said nail holding member also being disposed in said plane, the outer end portion of said nail holding member defining a passage in which to removably receive an associated nail therethrough with the head of the nail abutted against the side of the base end portion of said handle means facing in the direction of said neck and the point of the nail projecting endwise outwardly beyond the free end of the neck of the hammer head, said neck including an elongated longitudinal slot formed therein opening laterally outwardly of said neck toward the free end of said nail holding member, the inner end portion of said nail holding member being pivotally anchored in said slot for swinging of said nail holding member in said plane toward an inoperative position extending longitudinally of and at least partially received in said slot, the width of said nail holding member measured transversely of said plane being such to enable at least the free end portion of said nail holding member to be frictionally received and retained in said slot when said nail holding member is in its inoperative position.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the outer end of said nail holding member is bifurcated and the furcations thereof are spaced on opposite sides of said plane and define said passage therebetween.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the inner end portion of said nail holding member is pivotally anchored in the end portion of said slot adjacent the head of said hammer on the end of said neck remote from said body, whereby the free end of said nail holding member is swingable toward said handle means when being swung toward its inoperative position.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the outer end of said nail holding member is bifurcated and the furcations thereof are spaced on opposite sides of said plane and define said passage therebetween.
 5. In combination with a hammer head including a body defining laterally projecting handle means, and a laterally projecting neck extending outwardly from said body in a direction angularly disposed generally 90* to the direction in which said handle means projects, said handle means and said head lying in generally the same plane, a resilient nail holding member supported and projecting outwardly from an outer end portion of said neck and generally paralleling and opposing the base end portion of said handle means, said resilient nail holding member also being disposed in said plane, the outer end portion of said resilient nail holding member defining a passage in which to removably receive an associated nail therethrough with the head of the nail abutted against the side of the base end portion of said handle means facing in the direction of said neck and the point of the nail projecting endwise outwardly beyond the free end of the neck of the hammer head, said neck including an elongated longitudinal slot formed therein opening laterally outwardly of said neck toward the free end of said resilient nail holding member, the inner end portion of said resilient nail holding member being pivotally anchored in said slot for swinging of said resilient nail holding member in said plane toward an inoperative position extending longitudinally of and at least partially received in said slot, said resilient nail holding member and portions of said slot defining coacting means operative to frictionally retain said resilient nail holding member in said inoperative position. 